IRCTC: New Tatkal Ticket, Cancellation Charges and More

For the benefit of passengers looking to travel on trains at short notice, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the e-ticketing arm of Indian Railways provides the Tatkal booking facility. It can be availed on payment of premium charges on a first come first served basis.

Here are some major points to look before opting for Tatkal ticketing facility

Travellers can book tickets online via IRCTC official website- irctc.co.in. Or go for offline mode by approaching nearest reservation counters.

A maximum of four passengers per PNR (Passenger Name Record) can be booked on Tatkal tickets.

Tatkal booking opens at 10 am for AC classes and 11 am for non-AC classes one day in advance of the actual date of journey.

Tatkal Charges have been fixed at 10% of the basic fare for second class and 30% of the basic fare for all other classes

Web Ticket agents have been permitted to book only one Tatkal ticket per day per train and barred from booking between 10 and 12 noon.

Changing of name facility is not allowed for passengers opting for Tatkal ticketing scheme

If the train is delayed by more than 3 hours from the journey-originating point of the passenger, the Indian Railways grants full refund. But in case the train originating and boarding points of passenger are different this would not be applicable.

Passengers can claim full refund of ticket in case the train runs on a diverted route and his/her destination or boarding station does not fall on the route.

Passenger does not need to furnish any identity proof while Tatkal booking but he/she wil have to produce any identity proof in original during the time of journey.

In case a passenger is not provided accommodation in a coach which has not been attached but earmarked for Tatkal facility, he/she can also claim refund of funds.